PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1943, Page 3

PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT

CRITICISED BV MR HOLLAND "ORGANISATION SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.” NO EVIDENCE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, April 29. -‘The People’s Movement, which is again having much to say in condemnation of holding a general election this year, claims that it speaks for every electorate, yet it W'ould be interesting if its spokesman would give the names of, gay, half a dozen well-known citizens in any six adjoining electorates who are supporters of the movement,” said the leader of the National Party, Mr Holland, in a statement today. Mr Holland said that the publicity given to the demands of the so-called People’s Movement demanded' a reply. In ordinary circumstances one should probably not pay much attention to this organisation, which consisted of one or two persons who so far had been unable to name even six prominent persons associated with it. “Less than a year ago Parliament decided to extend its life, and immediately, there were protests from all over New Zealand, protests that no self-re-specting persons could possibly ignore,” said Mr Holland. “It was sheer weight of public opinion that brought about a general election this year, and the decision to hold the election has been received by the people generally as inevitable. There are still some people who adhere to the view that an election should not be held in war time. The public should be'reminded that during the time the self-styled People’s Movement has been proclaiming against the holding of an election its organiser has been busy touring New Zealand on a fruitless search for candidates. Now that he cannot produce the candidates, the movement urges that the general election be deferred till it is better prepared and better received by the public.”

When one remembered the sad experience of the Democratic Party in 1935, which the present organiser for the People’s Movement was responsible for organising, and several other mushroom parties, the absence of any leader or any defined policy in the movement is not to be wondered at. Who constituted the People’s Movement, who was its organiser, and who was its travelling agent? The organisation was shrouded in mystery and it sniped at all and sundry from behind cover. But when the shroud fell the people would find that some old political characters who had been forming political parties in the Dominion for the last 20 years had turned up again with a new name only.

In an address before a large audience tonight, Mr Holland declared that he would preserve for the workers their right of collective bargaining as trade unionists. He said that his determination to stamp out what was known as the trades hall domination of Parliament was not aimed at the trades union movement. The right of workers in crafts and trades to combine to safeguard and improve their working conditions was long established. He would honour that right and would take steps to facilitate workers taking their cases and grievances before the Arbitration Court.

“There is no more important function of a government than caring for those in need, and in the name of the National Party I make a solemn declaration that the social security scheme will be continued,” said Mr Holland. “The existing benefits and pensions will be continued, and it is to be hoped that it will be possible to extend the benefits by including dental treatment.” It would be the National Party’s determination to. remove many anomalies which existed, particularly those affecting that large section who by self-denial and thrift had made provision for their own security in old age. Mr Holland cited benefits which were in existence before Labour came into power, and said social security had its roots deep in the history of the country. The National Party intended not to retard progress but to hasten it.